Shakespeare, The Raj and Populism.

Until now I've resisted taking pictures of the obvious buildings along the Thames. Tower Bridge, The Tower Of London, The Globe Theatre all seemed a bit obvious. But what's wrong with obviousness? There's a reason that these things are popular and obvious landmarks; they're interesting and beautiful and people flock to them.

Is it a particularly British trait to condemn the obvious and popular? I can't imagine Africans or Indians being so offish about a popular person, building or thing. Maybe I don't know enough Africans or Indians to make that judgement, but there does seem to be something particularly British about putting down the popular.

Does this come from our inherent sense of superiority from our colonial past? Do we expect to be of the chosen few, like the 1500 Governors that ruled some 400 million Indians during the British Raj? Do we want life to be slightly better for us than for the masses? Is that why we always shun what they like and look for something 'better'?